Life-boat



PATBNTBD JAN. 5, 1904.

No. 748,919. y

R. A.-.BROWN.

LIFE BOAT. Y'

APPLICATION FILED DED.- 24, 1902J 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD JAN. 5', 1901.1..V

No. 748,919.- -K

P.. A. BRGWN.

LIFE BOAT. APPLICATION Hmm 1:30.24, 1902.

' 2 sums-SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

,. Y o o 'o I o i' El" @D o o o o d me uonsls Pneus co.. worauwa., wAsnmm'av. nc,

UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

ROBERT A. BROWN; 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIFE-BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent' No. 748,919, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed December 24:, 1902. Serial No. 186.468. @lo model.) l

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT IA. Bnowma citizen of the United States of America, andV boats which is provided with an inner car arranged to remain in equilibrium independ-` ently of the rolling or rotating of the outer shell or hull of the boat through the action of the waves or propelling mechanism.

The main objects lof my invention are to provide in a boat of this class asuitable ar-j rangement of the various parts,so that samel may be readily constructed entirely of steel for the purpose of making the boat ireproof, to provide improved mechanism for propelling a boat of this type, to provide animproved arrangement of parts suitable for properly Ventilating the boat, and to lprovide durable and efficient steering-gear by means of which the boat may be guided either from the exterior or interior of its car.` I accomplish these objects by the device shown'in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a life-boat constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sec-y tion along the line 2 2 ofl Fig. 1. Fig. 3fis a transverse section on the line'3 3 of Fig. 1.

In the construction shown'the hull consists of a shell 4:, substantially' cylindrical in form and somewhat reduced in diameter at its ends, and is subdivided into ve compartments by means of the four transverse bn'lkheads 5, 6, 7, and 8. The end compartmentsQ and 10 are water-tight and serve as air-tanks for supporting the boat in case some of the adjacent compartments become lled with water. The j compartments 11 and 12, being the compartments immediately inward of the air-tanks 9 and 10, communicate with the exterior of the boat by means of the tubular passages 13 and 14:, which extend axially through said airtanks. communicate Withthe exterior 'of the shell by means of an-annularseries4 of air-ports 15. The air-ports 15 are provided with glass lights The compartments 11` and 12 also' and are made water -tight by means of the usual gaskets and dogs.

The central compartment 16 is provided at the middle of its length with a supportingframe 17, extending transversely across same and rigidly secured to the shell. Ilhe compartment 16 has journaled therein two cylindrical cars l8\and 19, which are journaled at their adjacent ends ou a crank shaft 20, which is rigidly secured to the frame 17. Suitable cranks 21 connect with the ends of the shaft 20 and are supported at their opposite ends by suitable brackets 22, which are rigidly secured to the upper parts of the cars 18 and 19. The bulkheads 6 and 7 are provided with central apertures 23 and 24, and the ends of the cars 18 and 19 which are adjacent to `said. bulkheads are provided with corresponding apertures. Each of these apertures is surrounded by an annular series of rollers 25, which are journaled on the cars and ride onsuitable annular tracks on the flanges 26 and 27, which are rigidly secured to the corresponding bulkheads. VThe flange 27 projects inwardly of the car 19, beyond the rollers 25, and carries at its inner end an annular series of sprocket-teeth 28, which connect by means of a link belt 29 with a sprocket 30,

-which is driven by means of an oil-engine 31. 'The engine 31 is rigidly mounted in the lower part of the car 19. Further communication between the interior of the cars and the exterior of the hull may be had through the water-tight door 32 anda corresponding watertight door in the outer shell 4. Communication'between the two cars may also be had through the apertures 33 in their adjacent ends. The vessel is provided with suitable locking means (not shown in the drawings) K- for securing the cars 18 and 19 against rotation with respect'to the shell when the shell is at rest.

The shell e is stiffened longitudinally by a plurality of inner keelsons. 34 and transversely by means ofga plurality of' `spiral ilanges 85,v extending around the outer surface of said shell'. The lianges 35 alsoY serve the purpose of propelling thedevice through the water whenthe outer shell 4 is rotated.

The deviceris steered by means of a rudder fitting Within a corresponding ring 39, which is secured to the Walls of the passage 13.

The joint between the rings 38 and 39 is rendered Water-tight by means of a cup-leather packing 40. A platform 41 extends along the top of the truss 37. The aperture Within the ring 38 is preferably provided with a Watertight door 42, having a glass light therein. The rudder 36 is so arranged that it may be either operated by a tiller 43 from the platform 41 or by a Wheel 44 Within the car 18. Air is admitted to the interior of the boat through the passages 13 and 14.

The operation of the device shown is as follows: Passengers enter the boat through the passages 13 and 14 before the same is launched. To propel the device through the water, the outer shell 4 is caused to revolve by means of the engine 31 or if the engine is not in Working order by means of the cranks 21. The cars 18 and 19 remain in equilibrium on account of the location of the ballast and passengers contained therein. The cranks 2l also serve as convenient means for starting the engine when an oil-engine is used.

It Will be noticed that the spiral iianges 35 serve the double purpose of giving transverse vstiffness to the shell-plating and of forming propelling blades for driving the vessel through the Water when the shell is rotated. The timber-heads 45 are used for securing ropes for the purpose of lowering the vessel or warping it alongside of a ship, Wharf, &c., or for anchoring when offshore. Supplies may be carried in the bunkers under the seats in the cars 18 and 19. The truss 37 also carries pipes which lead overboard, such as engine-exhaust, sanitary, and other Waste pipes. These pipes are omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

The operation of other features of the device shown Will be apparent from the foregoing description.

It will be seen that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered Without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not confine myself to such details, except as herinafter limited in the claims.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-v 1. In aboat of the class described, the combination of a horizontally-disposed hull of substantially circular transverse cross-section, comprising a shell of sheet metal, a plurality of longitudinally-disposed stiffeningbars secured to the inner surface of said shell, and a transversely-disposed stiening-bar extending spirally around the outer surface of said shell, said outer stiffening-bar having an outwardly-projecting ange; a car journaled concentrically Within said hull; and means for rotating said hull about said car and propelling same, through the action of said outer iiange, substantially as described.

2. In a boat of the class described, the combination of a hull of substantially circular transverse cross-section; an outer propellingblade on said fhull; aA car journaled concentrically within said hull upon a horizontallydisposed axis; said hull being revoluble on` 'said'axis around said car; said car having a central aperture in one end of same; atransverse bulkhead extending across said hull near the open end "of the car and having therein a central opening corresponding to the aperture in said car; an annular ange rigidly secured-to said bulkhead around said opening and extending through said aperture into said car; an annular track on said bulkhead; suitable rollers riding upon said track and supporting said car; a motor mounted in said car and suitable gearing connecting said motor with said fiange inwardly of said rollers and adapted to cause said hull to rotate around said car, substantially as described.

3. In a boat of the class described, the combination of a hull of substantially circular transverse cross-section; an outer propellingblade extending spirally around said hull and rigidly secured thereto; a car journaledconcentrically Within said hull upon a horizontally-disposed axis; said hull being revoluble on said axis around said car and having an opening at each end in line with said axis; said car having rigidly secured thereto aA platform extending through one of said openings in suitable manner to leave a free passage through said opening above the platform and provided with asuitable bearing-surface to permit the rotation of said hull around said platform; a rudder supported by said platform, having a tiller above the platform outside of said hull; and a suitable connection extending along the platform to the inside of the car for operating said rudder, substantially as described.

4. In a boat ofthe class described, the combination of a hull of substantially circular transverse cross-section; an outer propellingblade extending spirally around said hull and rigidly secured thereto; a car journaled concentrically Within said hull upon a horizontally-disposed axis; said hull being revoluble on said axis around said car and having Van opening at each end in line with said axis; said car having rigidly secured thereto a platform extending through one of said openings in suitable manner to leave a free passage through said opening above the platform and provided with a suitable bearing-surface to permit the rotation of said hull around said. platform; a rudder supported by said platform, having a tiller above the platform outside of said hull; and a shaft journaled under said platform, suitably geared to said rudder and extending into the car for operating the rudder, substantially as described.

5. In a boat of the class described, the coma crank rigidly secured to said brace and exro bination of a hull of substantially circular Vtending into one of said cars for revolving transverse cross-section; an outer propellingsaid hull, substantially as described.

f blade extending spirally around said hull and Signed at Chicago this 20th day of Decem- 5 rigidly secured thereto; said hull having a ber, 1902.

transverse brace across its middle part; and ROBERT A. BROWN. a pair of cars oney at eachside of said brace Witnesses: and journaled thereto concentric with said RUIDOW RUMMLER hull in a substantially horizontal axis; and EUGENE A. RUMMLER. 

